John Laforey
| Sir John Laforey, 1st Baronet | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1729 |
| Died | 14 June 1796 HMS Majestic, Atlantic Ocean |
| Allegiance |
 Great Britain
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy
|
| Years of service | 1748 to 1796 |
| Rank | Royal Navy Admiral |
| Commands held |
HMS Ontario HMS Hunter HMS Echo HMS Pallas HMS Ocean Leeward Islands Station Commissioner Devonport Dockyard |
| Battles/wars |
Seven Years' War • Siege of Louisbourg • Siege of Quebec • Capture of Martinique American Revolutionary War • First Battle of Ushant • Battle of the Saintes French Revolutionary Wars • Capture of Tobago |
| Awards | Baronet of Whitby |
Sir John Laforey, 1st Baronet was a senior and controversial British naval officer of the 18th century whose extensive career was spent mainly on the North American and West Indian stations. During his career, Laforey was repeatedly involved in contentious naval politics, especially relating to the provision of prize money and angered several senior officers through much publicised disputes. This resulted in his sidelining for much of his career, only making flag rank and finding success with the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793.
Laforey was born to Lieutenant-Colonel John Laforey and his wife Mary Clayton in 1729, although the actual date is unknown. The Laforey family was descended from a prominent French Huguenot line which fled to England in the 1690s and became prominent military figures within their adopted country. Nothing is known of the younger John's childhood or education but in 1748 he became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Seven years later, in the early stages of the Seven Years' War, Laforey was personally promoted by Commodore Augustus Keppel to commander, taking over HMS Ontario as his first commission.
Three years later, Laforey commanded HMS Hunter at the Siege of Louisbourg in French Canada under Edward Boscawen. on 25 July 1758, Laforey earned distinction in command of the small force of sailors and marines who entered the harbour and burnt the French ship of the line Prudent and captured the Bienfaisant. For this service, Laforey was rewarded by Boscawen with promotion to captain and command of HMS Echo. He continued in service under Boscawen and was present during the capture of Quebec.
By 1762, Laforey had been transferred to the West Indies under Admiral Rodney and participated in his capture of the French island of Martinique. After the peace in the same year, Laforey remained in the West Indies and married Eleanor Farley, daughter of major Antigua landowner and politician Francis Farley. Admiral Francis Laforey was their son. He would later inherit substantial estates from his father-in-law. In 1770, Laforey returned to his naval career, briefly taking over the frigate HMS Pallas. For the next six years, Laforey remained in semi-retirement until the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1776 recalled him to service.
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Wikipedia